CHICAGO (April 13, 2010) – On March 31, 2010, Academy of General Dentistry (AGD) President David F. Halpern, DMD, FAGD, testified during the first meeting of the Institute of Medicine’s (IOM) “Committee on Oral Health Initiative” in Washington, D.C. Dr. Halpern addressed several topics, including access to care and oral health literacy.
Dr. Halpern emphasized the need to improve children’s oral health, as oral diseases negatively impact learning, interfere with eating, and contribute to poor self-esteem.
“Public schools have played a critical role in keeping our children healthy,” Dr. Halpern said. “Schools routinely hold programs to ensure that our children can hear properly, see properly, and are free from other diseases. However, dental diseases, the most prevalent of all, do not receive the same attention.”
Dr. Halpern asked the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to consider mandating oral health programs in all public schools.
Additionally, Dr. Halpern expressed his support for initiatives that ensure that minority and rural populations receive quality oral health care services from dentists; such initiatives could include loan repayment programs to dentists working in community-health and underserved settings, the restoration of Title VII, and patient transportation and non-dental social services programs.
Dr. Halpern also spoke about the importance of shifting from a treatment-based concept of medicine to one based on prevention. He stated that this transformation can be achieved by assisting patients, physicians and communities to become oral health literate.
“Yes, the HHS must continue its water fluoridation programs as a fallback to maintain a minimal level of oral health in communities, but this is not nearly sufficient—utilization through greater oral health literacy is mandatory,” Dr. Halpern said.
Lastly, Dr. Halpern expressed his disappointment over the lack of a practicing private-practice dentist on the committee and encouraged the committee to reconsider appointing a general dentist from the private-practice community.
For copies of Dr. Halpern’s official AGD testimony, e-mail advocacy@agd.org.
About the Academy of General Dentistry
The Academy of General Dentistry (AGD) is a professional association of more than 35,000 general dentists dedicated to staying up to date in the profession through continuing education. Founded in 1952, the AGD has grown to become the second-largest dental association in the United States, and it is the only association that exclusively represents the needs and interests of general dentists. More than 772,000 persons are employed directly in the field of dentistry. A general dentist is the primary care provider for patients of all ages and is responsible for the diagnosis, treatment, management and overall coordination of services related to patients’ oral health needs. For more information about the AGD, please visit www.agd.org.